Category: Uncategorized

#15 Elsie Binx (EBX) That’s What She Said Elsie Binx got a bit heavier since their first album (#13 from 2015) and I like it a lot. They were the band that got me back into the Detroit music scene and they still remain the best. I have no doubt they will eventually break out…

#16 Imagine Dragons Evolve I have to admit, I kind of gave up on Imagine Dragons. After an incredible first record (#10 in 2012) their second album was a complete disappointment. Evolve makes up for it without hesitation. Believer is easily the best song they have ever written and is destined for a grammy…

#17 Dreamcar Dreamcar The guys from No Doubt get the singer from AFI and create a serious 80’s retro new wave album. Bringing back memories of Duran Duran and The Cure among others. A completely original take on what we love about the 80’s. Favorite Tracks- On The Charts, Kill For Candy Listen to Dreamcar…

#18 John Mayer The Search For Everything It might just be me but I love everything John Mayer does. His voice is so soothing to listen to. The fact that he did a breakup album was even more special to me this year. Still Feel Like Your Man, Emoji of a Wave, Helpless, Moving On…

#19 All Time Low Last Young Renegade If you are expecting another straight forward Pop-Punk album you would be let down. If you are looking for an intelligent and atmospheric Pop-Rock album this is easily one of the best of 2017. There is still enough Pop-Punk to keep long time fans around for the party….

#20 Arcade Fire Everything Now Is it possible for Arcade Fire to make a bad album? Five albums in I’m going to have to say not a chance. Everything Now is like a tour through the decades of pop music. All done with their incredible brilliance of songwriting. Favorite Tracks- Everything Now, Peter Pan Listen…

Starting December 5th My Favorite Albums of 2017 I know I said last year would be my last. Well, I paid for the domain for another year so I better not waste it. This year will be much more scaled down as I didn’t want to commit too much time to getting it together. I’m…

Night Riots Love Gloom I was blown away on my first listen to this album. Every single song on this album is captivating lyrically and brilliantly orchestrated. A beautiful mash-up of rock guitar riffs and 80’s synth-pop. Don’t Kill The Messenger had me fooled for a while that it was a Depeche Mode cover. I…

Panic! At The Disco Death Of A Bachelor Brandon Urie’s lyric writing skills are by far one of the best in rock music today. They are clever, intelligent, inspiring and harmonically infectious. You can’t help but to sing along with every song throughout the album. His musical ability is also incredible considering he played every…

Weezer Weezer (White Album) Whenever Weezer release a self titled album you know it is destined to become a classic. With their fourth self titled white album Rivers Cuomo and band deliver on this assumption tenfold. Chock full of songs that are destined to become set list mainstays. Thanks God For Girls and King of…

With Confidence Better Weather While a straight forward no frills Pop-Punk album may not seem transcending in such an oversaturated category this album rises above them all. I think you will agree on first listen that this is undoubtedly the best Pop-Punk record of the year. There really is nothing special about this album, it’s…

Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Producer – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Questlove, Bill Sherman In reality a musical about founding father and star of the US $10 bill, Alexander Hamilton, should not even rank. But in actual reality it ranks as one of the best musicals I have ever heard and equally the greatest…

Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams Producer – Rik Simpson, Stargate Heralded as Coldplay’s final album A Head Full Of Dreams is the perfect epilogue to one of the all time greatest bands. While I don’t feel this is truly the last we will hear from them I do believe this story arc of…

Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind Producer – James Ford Mumford & Sons have transformed from a Hipster Folk/Bluegrass group to an Alt Rock mega-force. I never really got into their previous two albums but after seeing them play SNL to promote this album I was mesmerized at their new sound. I joked that they…

Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface Producer – Ricky Reed, Mike Elizonodo, Mike Crossey, Tim Anderson, Tyler Joseph I wasn’t expecting to like this album so much. I especially didn’t expect to love it on first listen. I think most of it has to do with how the song “Stressed Out” so closely matched my adolescent…

Death Cab For Cutie – Kintsugi Producer – Rich Costey There is something about the way Death Cab for Cutie writes songs about relationships. They just seem so much more real and heartfelt than anything else I have ever heard. If you are looking for a song to sum up your relationships past or present…

Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free Producer – Dave Cobb This album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Country, Folk and Rock charts and Number 6 overall. That is a huge accomplishment to have that much instant crossover appeal. One listen and I was hooked. I don’t usually listen to a lot of…

James Taylor – Before This World Producer – Dave O’Donnell James Taylor is like a fine wine that gets better with age. It been a long 13 years of waiting for a album of new music but the wait has paid off. Taylor’s songwriting is top notch and his voice is a soulful as ever….

Fall Out Boy American Beauty/American Psycho Producer – Jake Sinclair, Fall Out Boy, Butch Walker, J.R. Rotem, Omega, SebastiAn, Young Wolf, Hatchlings Fall Out Boy continue to amaze me with how incredibly good they are. They are without a doubt one of the best hard rock acts around. Could you even imagine a Foo Fighter/Fall…

Collective Soul See What You Started By Continuing Producer – Ed Roland Collective Soul are back and better than ever. See What You Started By Continuing brings a return to their guitar driven sound of the 90’s. This album is definitely their best since 1999’s Dosage. Singles like This, AYTA and Exposed are instant classics….

The Wonder Years – No Closer To Heaven Producer – Steve Evetts I was first introduced to The Wonder Years lead vocalist last year on his side project Arron West and the Roaring Twenties my #2 Pick for 2014. When I heard his full time band was releasing a new album I couldn’t wait to…

Fences – Lesser Oceans Producer – Fences, Jaquire King This album was one of the earlier finds I had this year. Upon first listen I knew it was destined to make my list. Beginning to end there is not a single bad song on this album. Favorite Tracks – The Lake, Dusty Beds Listen to…